Coolmore's Personal Earns Group 1 Win in VRC Oaks

Lindsay Park Racing has used Flemington to make a bold statement that the Hayes family racing empire will remain a force after Personal (AUS) delivered a knockout blow Nov. 5 in the VRC Oaks (G1), the stable's fourth victory of the country's premier carnival so far. David Hayes, who invested heavily in a state-of-the-art training center at Euroa in Victoria a decade ago to build on the legacy started by his father, Colin, returned to Hong Kong in time for the start of the current season, leaving his nephew Tom Dabernig and eldest son, Ben, to take the reins after working in partnership for almost four years. The breakthrough group 1 win for the duo Thursday came with the Fastneck Rock (AUS) filly Personal, who finished strongly in a fast-run Oaks to defeat Salto Angel (NZ) by 1 1/4 lengths. Favorite Montefilia (AUS), who won the Spring Champion Stakes (G1) in her previous start, was another 1 1/4 lengths back in third in a race that saw huge margins from first to last due to the tempo testing the stamina of the 3-year-olds. Dabernig is confident that the Oaks would not be Personal's only big-race win by the time the G.H. Mumm Wakeful Stakes (G2) runner-up is retired to stud. "That was a massive thrill, and a big thanks to all of our team at home," Dabernig said. "She's a very good filly. She can sprint and she can stay. She has some magnificent attributes. We haven't seen the best of her, either. There is still much more to come." Hayes backed up Dabernig's comments about the significance of the victory. "It's a huge thrill, and I know Dad back in Hong Kong will be very excited," Hayes said. "We've been close with seconds in the Thousand Guineas (G2) and Caulfield Guineas (G1), so this is a terrific result. It really means a lot to us at Lindsay Park, and to train our first one is a big thrill. (Coolmore) have always been great supporters of us, and it's great to be able to do it in our first year. I am pinching myself still. She is an amazing horse." Personal's jockey, Damien Oliver, said it was the "majors," which kept the champion rider wanting to compete at the highest level. "It's what keeps me going," he said. "I love competing at the highest level. While it's been a little bit sad not having the crowd here, it's been a wonderful event. "It's great to win for Ben and Tom and be part of their first group 1. I've won a few over the years for the old man, and I am sure this is the first of many for them." Personal, who was third in the Neds Blue Diamond Stakes (G1), has earned almost AU$1.1 million (US$778,964) in prize money in nine starts. The filly, who was purchased by Coolmore's Tom Magnier and BBA Ireland, cost AU$440,000 (US$456,192) at last year's Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale from the Cressfield draft. Bred by Bruce Neill, she is raced by a syndicate that includes Coolmore, Paul Shanahan, Lindsey Maxsted, and Adrian Nicoll. Magnier was emotional after the group 1 win, which came just two days after the global outfit lost Anthony Van Dyck in the Melbourne Cup (G1). "We are just overwhelmed," Magnier said. "The week that it has been, to pick up the Kennedy Oaks is a dream, and to do it with the Hayes team, with which we have a long association with—now with Ben and Tom at the helm—and are very close with, makes it very special. "Damien Oliver, what a ride he gave her. He is just the king of Flemington, that guy. We race horses all over the world, but to win this race on this day is beyond words. It's one of life's dreams. "(Fastnet Rock is) a very special stallion, and (Personal is) out of a Galileo (IRE) mare. It's what dreams are made of. It's been a tough week, but this is a very big high today."